Does viscose shrink

Does viscose shrink. Yes, viscose can shrink, especially when exposed to water, heat, or improper handling. Here’s what you need to know about viscose shrinkage and how to prevent it:

Why Does viscose shrink ?

• Water Sensitivity: Viscose is a type of fabric made from plants, and it can soak up water and get weaker when it’s wet. This means it might shrink if we’re not careful when we wash it.
• Heat Sensitivity: Viscose doesn’t like too much heat. If we use really hot water, dry it with high heat, or iron it with a very hot iron, the fabric could get smaller because the fibers tighten up.
• Mechanical Stress: When we wash viscose in a washing machine, the moving around can make it stretch or shrink in a wonky way, especially if we use a strong cycle.

How to Prevent Viscose fabric from Shrinking ?

1. Washing: It’s best to wash clothes made of viscose in cold water with a gentle soap, and it’s even better if we can wash them by hand.
   • Hand Wash Preferred: Hand washing in cold water with a mild detergent is the best way to avoid shrinkage.
   • Delicate Cycle: If you must use a washing machine, choose a delicate or hand wash cycle and use cold water.
2. Machine Washing: If we have to use a washing machine, we should choose the delicate or hand wash setting and still use cold water.
3. Drying: After washing, we should lay the clothes flat on a towel to air dry instead of using the dryer, especially because the heat and movement in the dryer can make them shrink.
4. Sunlight: We should avoid drying them in direct sunlight to keep them from getting damaged by the heat.
5. Mesh Bag: If we have to use the washing machine, it’s a good idea to put the clothes in a mesh bag to protect them and keep them from stretching or shrinking.
6. Ironing: If we need to iron the clothes, we should use a low heat setting and iron them while they’re a bit damp to help keep their shape.
7. Reading Labels: It’s important to always follow the instructions on the label that comes with the clothes because they can tell us exactly how to take care of them.
   • Follow Manufacturer Instructions: Always follow the care instructions on the garment’s label, as they are tailored to the specific fabric blend.

What to Do if Viscose Shrinks ?

• Fixing Shrunken Clothes: If your viscose clothes have gotten a bit smaller, you can try to fix it while they are still a little wet. Gently stretch the fabric back to its normal size and let it dry flat.
• Ironing Trick: You can also use a low-heat iron to carefully stretch the fabric while you iron it. This can help loosen up the fibers and make the clothes less shrunk.

Is viscose stretchy ?

Pure Viscose: Generally, pure viscose fabric is not stretchy and is better suited for loose, draped garments.

Blended or Knitted Viscose: For stretch, look for viscose fabrics that are either blended with elastic fibres like spandex or are knitted, as these will provide the stretchi-ness needed for more fitted garments.